We Don't Even Know

Christian Felix and Shonali Bhowmik became fast friends while working as temporary workers at a huge law firm in Manhattan. They share a love of laughing and giving each other hell. They may be called hipsters, old school, mainstream, irreverent, classic, country, gangster, or rock n' roll. All labels apply. Special guests, music, and attitude every episode.

Our programming changes up a little with this episode. Continuing on the heels of our first We Don't Even Know live show at HiFi last month, while Christian is out of town - Shonali curates a new monthly show at HiFi in the East Village. This one is called Shonali's Show And Tell. Shonali along with her special guests: Starlee Kine (This American Life), Duane Harriott (WFMU, Negroclash), Katina Corrao (stand up extraordinaire, actress) and Jason Trachtenburg (musician, Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players). Listen now to find out what types of stories come from a birthday card received in junior high, a Chinese newspaper, a sealed Russell Crowe CD, a peeled grape in a plastic bag and a pair of nice binoculars. Enjoy! Christian is back next month for another edition of We Don't Even Know. Starlee is missing from this picture. Photo by Molly Larrison

For only the second time ever, We Don't Even Know was taped in front of a live audience (1st time being on the eve of Hurricane Sandy), but for the first time ever, this was in a bar with a proper sound system and a full bar in close proximity to the audience. The lineup for our special live edition of WDEK was a dream come true for us. And the show was a blast. First, we must disclose that we had some technical difficulties at the top of the show. Let's just say, it was the first time Justin, did live sound in such a setting and Christian had train issues - along with 50 people staring at them while we were trying to get everything working right. It may have been for the best, because Christian and Shonali's rendition of You Don't Have To Be A Star is probably something that doesn't need to preserved for eternity. Let's just say this was a special gift for the audience who joined us in the new backroom of Hi Fi, formerly the legendary rock n' roll venue Brownies, located in the East Village. We will probably be doing many more shows in this venue - while also continuing to do our regular in studio episodes.

In terms of the show, we are happy to share with you actor extraordinaire, Jason Butler Harner, who just co-starred with Greta Gerwig in the play, The Village Bike, and is currently finishing up work as a young Christopher Walken in the new feature, The Family Fang with Nicole Kidman and Jason Bateman. Most importantly Jason had a nice segue to Christian's story about wanting privacy in the bathroom. Who doesn't? Our next guess, was Shonali's longtime friend and musical talent Chris Maxwell. He sings for us and shares his witty stories of days in Arkansas playing rock n' roll as a teenager and more recently as a guitar player in a band called Skeleton Key in Brownies in the mid 90's. We were lucky to have the smart, witty, and stylish comedian Aparna Nancherla perform and talk to us about many things, including her general state of anxiety. Lastly, Shonali took it upon herself to find the gentleman who created one her favorite videos, Soul Train Babies. She clicked and clicked until she found a message link on the YouTube video, and asked if by any chance he lived in NYC. That's all it took! Ladies and gentlemen, Darell J. Hunt, the genius behind, the YouTube video, Soul Train Babies, was our final guest, and shared lots of his wisdom including, his nostalgic view of "Hood" life. Please be sure to look up all these amazing people including yourselves. It was wonderful to be in an intimate space with you, laughing, talking, and drinking! Thanks to all of you that came to the show! We look forward to seeing you at our next show. Please share this show with your frenemies.

Still cold in NYC! Shonali and Christian are happy to have been able to enjoy some warm weather in other cities. Christian travels with a hungry German Shepherd and a lady who will be jamming up in heaven. Shonali, Justin, and Christian celebrate the success of their short film Sardines Out of A Can, the winner of the Best Romantic Comedy Short Film at the Bare Bones Film Festival in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Shonali's parents share their expert thoughts on the newest Late Night tv hosts and the future of the Late Show. Shonali's mom is way ahead of Shonali when it comes to keeping up with Comedy Central. Adam Wade, the 18 time Moth Story Slam winner and co-star of Sardines Out of A Can is our special guest. Christian's newest hashtags are #DestinationSlice #3StoriesInOneNight #MarieIsListening. Hoboken has happily adopted Adam. Adam hosts his own UCB East show called The Adam Wade from New Hampshire Show. Go see it. He also teaches storytelling classes at The Magnet Theater. Shonali, Christian, and Justin are going to take his class. Come join us. Our Episode 22 song is Luna by the band Fear of Men.

Whoa! It's already St. Patrick's Day weekend - Christian and Shonali have way too much to catch up on. We talk Riverdance, Bronies, and walking strategies for New Yorkers. Shonali is dissed by her dad. Christian is in a TMZ phase. Shonali bombed an audition and Christian booked his. We share diatribes on hipster diatribes. Our special guest this episode is comedienne and actress Bridey Elliott. She just returned from Austin, where the film in which she co-stars, Fort Tilden, just won the Grand Jury Prize at SXSW. We talk animal handling, teen age angst, and growing up in a comedy family. Her father is Chris Elliott, sister is Abby Elliott, and grandfather is Bob Elliott. We also talk boyfriends, strategies for avoiding getting raped, Siri and butt dialing. In addition to acting, Bridey does stand up and is also performing in Absolutely, her Maude Night improv group at the UCB Theatre. We had so much fun having Bridey as our guest. You will hear Shonali laughing the ENTIRE episode. GAWSH! Our Episode 22 song is Sunshine Love by Rikki Ililonga.

Happy New Year to all our WDEK listeners. Things are off to a good start in the WDEK studios with Christian and Shonali both getting sick over the holidays. We are having a snow storm right now. Christian talks about story hijackers and Justin lends us his thoughts. Parents think they are better drivers than their kids and that's a fact. Shonali's mom sends Christian a special FB message. Subway sightings include a dancer at Union Square platform and a man with a carryon and a tennis racquet. Our special guest is Pete Miser, the legendary front man of Five Fingers of Funk from Portland, OR and a rapper who has released 4 full length albums of his own, while helming the board at his own Ho House studios in Tribeca. He's worked closely with Dido and Imani Coppola and is always making new music. Pete comes bearing gifts. This one is especially for Christian and his former thigh chafing issues (as heard on Ep. 4). Pete was a B-boy who started to rap at age 16. He will fill you in on what's happening in hip hop today, and what's not. Did you see the Indian dancing boy star on India's Got TAlent? Are musicians sellouts for putting their music in commercials? Shonali is reading the Miles Davis Autobiography. Sounds are a singular experience. You can hear them by just reading about them. Pete makes his world debut of Hands Up 3.3 on We Don't Even Know! Put your HANDS UP!!!!!

Kenny Lienhardt is a one of a kind individual! He's the legendary soundman of the Bowery Ballroom for 14 years. He is the host of the Urban Angler public access fishing show for 10 years. He was the front man of the death metal band Black Virgin in the mid 80's and he was the producer of Tigers & Monkeys' recent full-length release "The Animals Will Forgive Us Again" and co-produced "Loose Mouth". He is a character that you never forget. He was recently celebrated in the Jan 3, 2014 Village Voice and since we are still talking about how much we enjoyed having him as one of our first WDEK guests, we wanted to share some of the highlights from his visit to the WDEK Studio in Sept. 2012. In case you missed it or want to hear it again - enjoy! Some of the language is offensive, so turn down while listening. Sorry mom.

The trees, the lights, the people, the shopping ....ugh! Shonali has a new look. Marcellus Hall just had a release party and his Afterglow CD is available on Band Camp. Christian calls Shonali "perky." Holiday angst on the subways and streets of New York. Gift giving is not so easy. Christian uses the term "viral vids." Tigers & Monkeys have a new CD, The Animals Will Forgive Us Again coming out January 7, 2014. Episode 20 guest, Shalewa Sharpe is all about gift receiving this year. Christian calls Shalewa "perky." Some people are bold and break into millionaire's homes and throw parties. Some are even bolder and steal snow leopards. Shonali understands animal facial expressions. Did you see the fake sign language translator on the Mandela Memorial? Shalewa is a rising comedian, former adult video store clerk and a new New York transplant from Atlanta. There are some surprises to working in an adult video store. Long ago, Shalewa shared a very important video with Shonali. Shalewa had low expectations of her comedy career when she arrived to New York. Lots of comedians talk about their junk. Dad's stop understanding their daughters after they turn 9. Justin and Shonali are going to Minneapolis for a free Sardines Out of A Canscreening party at Varsity Theater, Wednesday, December 18th at 7:30pm. Shalewa is at The Creek and The Cave, December, 16th in Long Island City for Caught On Tape. Deerhunter is a great band from Atlanta. Here is their awesome video Back To The Middle. Happy Holidays! Don't let your family get to you!

Happy Halloween! Happy Diwali! Happy November! Shonali just got her tooth drilled at the dentist office. Tooth ash was spewing everywhere. Christian was beligerant on Halloween, not just beligerant, but the Beligerant Yogi. Pictures are up on our FB page. Christian's landlord took his family on vacation to Burning Man and we're not judging. Christian, Shonali, Justin and special guest Jeffrey Gamblero have never been to Burning Man, so we don't even know. Bathroom attendants are a thing of the past, thank goodness. It's always so awkward. Christian ponders whether its the noises or the smell that would be the worst Have you seen the Jumbotron at Barclays Center during a Nets game? If so you definitely saw our Ep. 19 guest up there! Our "Uber" guest is Jeffrey Gamblero, a super fan of Brooklyn Nets, former professional poker player, graffitti writer, artist and current Lofty Goals NYC art collective partner. There is a viral meme out now with him on it regarding the Nets win over the Heat. Jeffrey did not have gambling groupies while he gambled. His beautiful wife to be, Kristi Evans, with the beautiful hair, is his partner in Lofty Goals. Jeffrey and Kristi will be hosting interactive art shows - ie. gambling for art. Our special music comes from Four Tet, a song called Parallel Jalebi in honor of Shonali's newlywed friends.

Christian celebrates his birthday in a new graphical Urban Outfitters sweatshirt. Disclosure, WDEK Ep. 18 does not cover the Government Shutdown, Miley Cyrus or twerking. Shonali and Christian question the intentions behind gift giving. Christian is impressed by Shonali's first official home office chair with movable arm rests and lumbar support. Shonali is screening her short film Sardines Out of A Can in NYC on Oct. 24th at Wythe Hotel. Christian had a role on Guiding Light, better than that, he auditioned for All My Children via a self taped video and we have the proof. The next generation of techies are gamers. Kids today can sneak on to planes, steal SUVs and hack phones and tablets. The empathy sucker - smartphones as per Louis CK and Christian. Our special guest is a former Apple technician, teacher, writer, musician and DJ extraordinaire Rashida White. Rashida and Shonali met as volunteers at Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls. Have you tried Alchemy Vegan Ice Cream. Shonali tried to make a video letter for Bloomberg. Our song of the episode is Lazy Soldier by Sam Jayne (Love As Laughter).

Christian and Shonali are back with a summer recap! Highlights include Chuck. E. Cheese, a 20 year old Ford Aerostar Van, a special summer care package and a dirty driver's license. Christian has a special relationship with the TSA and body scanners. The heated NYC Mayoral race brings out the best in our current Mayor. Robots are taking our jobs. Did Watson, the Jeopardy computer ever lose? We are hiring fact checkers at WDEK. Our special guest is comedian and longtime friend, Greg Johnson. Christian, Shonali and Greg worked in a major Manhattan lawfirm together. Greg is a former "Chron King" and "Bros Blog" writer. He is known as the "best blogger alive." Greg teaches us complex job exit strategies and how to get Cher to respond to your tweets. Greg coined "war dialing." Remember our story from Episode 16? What's with all the hoax viral videos these days? Our music this week comes from the American brother and sister folk duo (Brad and Jessical Lauretti),This Frontier Needs Heroes with a song called George Clooney.